Scripture: Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20. Resp. Daniel 3:52-56. Luke 21:1-4.
Lectionary # 503:

In the land of Babylon (present day Iraq), Daniel and his companions were
summoned by Nebuchanezzar to be within his court. They would be prepared
for this by good food and by learning the language of the Chaldeans. They
already because of their natural talents and gifts from God had wisdom,
understanding, knowledge, and knew literature well. God also blessed them
because of their fidelity to the commandments and the precepts of the Torah
and they lived out the covenant. Daniel is signalled out as the leader and
he has a special gift of interpreting dreams and understanding visions.
This puts him head and shoulders above the king's magicians and sorcerers.
He was on his way to the top, but his fidelity to the God of Israel
eventually leads the king to put him and his companions into a fiery
furnace. Their deep union with God brings them through this ordeal with
the help of an angel who protects them from the fire. They are not even
singed by its flames! Fidelity to God is the lesson. Thus in this
apocalyptic book we have a forerunner of the New Testament and the book of
Revelation. Our Apocalypse is probably the purest form of such symbolic
inspired literature; it is quite dependent upon Daniel and Ezekiel for much
of its symbolism. Both books, Daniel and the Apocalypse (Revelation) are
appropriate for this last week of the liturgical year. Jesus is sitting
where he can observe those entering the Temple; many place offerings in the
earlike receptacles at the entrance of the Temple. He sees a poor widow
taking her two coins and putting them within the coffer. Only the
compassionate and observant Jesus would notice her. It offers him another
teaching moment for his disciples. Her total generosity and love for God
prompts her to do this. Jesus will immortalize her act through Luke's
Gospel and she lives as a moving example even for us today. We are not
given her name, but we do know she belongs to the 'Anawim or the Poor of
God who have no one to depend upon but God. She probably was quite devoted
to the Psalms which often reflect the thoughts of the poor of God. She is
like Daniel and his companions in her fidelity to the covenant and the
Torah. Jesus words are worth our time today, " See this woman, I tell you
truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those have made
offerings from their surplus wealth, but she from her poverty, has offerd
her whole livelihood." Amen.